Birger Magnusson

1210 - Birth of Birger Magnusson of Bjälbo, son of Magnus Minnesköld of Bjälbo and Ingrid Ylva, nephew to the Earl Birger Brosa, and the most famous member of the ancient noble family of the Folkung or Folkungaätten, which had so much to say for itself in early Swedish history. Swedish statesman.

1248 - Birger was created Jarl (Earl) by King Erik Eriksson.

- Married the king’s sister Ingeborg Eriksdotter.

1249 - He led an expedition to Finland, built the fortress of Tavastehus, and thus laid the foundations of Sweden’s oversea empire.

- He also built Stockholm, and enriched it by making it the chief mart for the trade of Lübeck, with which city he concluded a commercial treaty.

1250-1251 - On Erik’s death, his son, Valdemar was elected king while his father acted as regent.

1261 - He married the daughter of King Abel of Denmark, the queen dowager Mechtild of Holstein.